SEE YOURSELF AS GOD SEES YOU

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." Numbers 13:30

Three groups of people were made to submit themselves to scientific experiments to test the effect of mental suggestion on their strength. They were to grip a strength-measuring instrument with all their strength under three different sets of conditions.

The first group was tested under normal conditions. The average grip was 45 kilograms.

The second group was told that they were very weak and did not have the muscle mass to lift heavy weights. Their average grip this time was only 13 kilograms!

In the third group they were told that they had athletic muscle mass and were naturally endowed with strength to handle heavy weights. The average grip jumped to 64 kilograms.

The results of the tests proved that human performance is critically impacted by the human mindset. Although all the people in the three groups had similar strengths, the thoughts that were planted into their minds about themselves influenced their performance.

The verdict is clear: the way people act is based on the way they perceive themselves. None of us wants to miss the blessings God has planned for us.

However, because of our own negative attitude and wrong choices, we often live lives that are way below our potential.

Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years because they allowed negativity and a sense of powerlessness to govern their attitudes and choice. Like the people in the strength-test experiment, Israel responded to their challenges based on their self-image.

When they thought of themselves as grasshoppers, they fell. When they thought like slaves from Egypt, they failed; when they thought as liberated people of the Most High God, they won.

Prayer: Help me O Lord, to think of myself the way You think of me.

Scriptural Reading: Numbers 13:1-33

Health: How to Get Rid of Dark Elbows and Knees

The skin around the elbows and knees is usually thicker and has more folds than its surrounding skin. Also, because there are no oil glands in these areas, this skin tends to be drier. So, when proper care and hygiene is not maintained, the skin on knees and elbows becomes much darker than other parts of your body.   

Some other factors that contribute to dark elbows and knees are frequent rubbing, overexposure to the sun, genetic factors, dry skin, hormonal imbalance, obesity, dead skin buildup and increased melanin pigment.This is a common issue that can make one self-conscious about wearing short-sleeve dresses and tops as well as skirts and shorts.

Several natural remedies and simple skin care techniques can help solve this problem.

1. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a good remedy to lighten dark knees and elbows. It has vitamin E that can help lighten the skin tone and prevent dryness by keeping the skin hydrated and moisturized. It can even repair dark and damaged skin.

• After each shower or bath, apply coconut oil on your knees and elbows and massage gently for 1 to 2 minutes. Reapply several times a day to prevent dryness.
• Alternatively, prepare a mixture with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil and ½ teaspoon of lemon juice. Rub this solution on your dark elbows and knees and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Wipe it off with paper towels. Do this once daily.
• You can also add enough coconut oil to 1 tablespoon of walnut powder to make a thick paste. Use it to exfoliate dark skin patches around your knees and elbows 2 or 3 times a week.

2. Lemon

Lemon has natural bleaching as well as exfoliating properties. Also, it has a high amount of vitamin C that helps remove dead cells and lighten skin tone. It can also promote regeneration of healthy skin cells.

• Apply lemon juice on your elbows and knees and massage gently for a few minutes. Leave it on for about 20 minutes. Wash it off with warm water and apply a moisturizing lotion.
• You can also extract the juice of 1 lemon and mix it with 1 tablespoon of honey. Apply it on the affected areas and leave it on for 20 minutes. Wash the mixture off with water.

Follow either of these remedies once daily for a couple of weeks. After applying lemon juice, avoid sun exposure for the next 3 hours.

3. Yogurt

Yogurt contains lactic acid that helps lighten skin color. It also cleanses and moisturizes the skin.

• Mix 1 teaspoon each of plain yogurt and white vinegar to get a smooth paste. Apply it on the affected areas and let it dry. Rinse it off with warm water, pat dry and apply a moisturizer. Do this daily for a few weeks.
• Alternatively, mix 2 tablespoons of gram flour and 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt to make a thick paste. Apply it on your darkened elbows or knees and leave it on for 20 minutes. Then, rub with wet fingers to remove the paste and rinse with water. Do this 2 or 3 times a week.

4. Sugar

To lighten the skin tone of your knees and elbows, you can also use a homemade sugar scrub. Sugar granules help exfoliate dead skin cells and soften the skin.

1. Mix equal amounts of sugar and olive oil to make a thick paste.
2. Apply this paste on your knees and elbows and rub it around using circular motions for 5 minutes.
3. Wash it off with a mild soap and warm water.
4. Do this once daily until the skin tone around your knees and elbows lightens.
5. Repeat this treatment on a weekly basis.

5. Baking Soda

Baking soda acts as a gentle cleanser, hence it is effective for treating dark knees and elbows. It can help remove dead skin cells and reduce hyper-pigmentation that forms around the knees and elbows.

1. Prepare a paste with 1 tablespoon each of milk and baking soda.
2. Apply it on the affected areas and rub it around in circular motions for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Wash it off with lukewarm water and pat dry the area thoroughly.
4. Repeat every other day until you get the desired results.

6. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a natural skin lightener that will also keep the skin hydrated and moisturized. It can help maintain even skin tone and promote the repair of skin cells damaged by sun exposure.

1. Extract the gel by breaking open a fleshy aloe vera leaf.
2. Apply it to the affected areas.
3. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then wash it off with warm water.

Repeat 1 or 2 times daily for a few weeks.

7. Almond

Both almonds and almond oil are good for your skin. Almonds are rich in skin-nourishing properties that can help maintain an even skin tone and keep your skin healthy and glowing.

• Massage the affected areas with warm almond oil for about 5 minutes daily before going to bed. Within a few days, you should notice improvement.
• Alternatively, mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of coarsely powdered almonds with a little yogurt to make a thick paste. Apply it on the darkened elbows and knees. Allow it to dry, then with wet fingers rub in circular motions. Wash it off with cold water. Do this once or twice daily for a few weeks.

8. Mint

Mint contains several volatile oils that promote collagen in the body. It helps maintain an even skin tone and makes skin glow with health.

1. Boil ½ cup of water with a handful of mint leaves for 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Add the juice of ½ lemon to it, strain and allow the solution to cool.
3. Soak a cotton ball in this solution and rub it on your knees and elbows.
4. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes, then wash it off with warm water.
5. Follow this treatment 1 or 2 times daily until you are satisfied with the results.

9. Turmeric

Turmeric is also highly recommended for dark elbows and knees. It can help maintain an even tone and adds a nice glow to the skin.

• Mix a little turmeric powder with 1 teaspoon of milk cream. Apply it on your knees and elbows and massage for a few minutes. Allow it to dry, then wash it off with lukewarm water.
• Alternatively, combine equal amounts of turmeric powder and gram flour. Add enough rose water to it to make a paste. Massage this paste onto your elbows and knees. Leave it on until it is dry. Finally, scrub off the dried mask with lukewarm water.

10. Cucumber

Cucumber has natural bleaching properties that help lighten dark elbows and knees. Also, cucumber will help keep the skin moisturized and aid in removing impurities from the outer skin layer.

• Gently rub thick slices of cucumber over your elbows and knees for 10 minutes. Leave it for another 5 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water. Follow this treatment daily.
• Alternatively, mix together equal amounts of cucumber juice and lemon juice. Stir in a little turmeric powder. Apply it on the affected areas. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes, then wash it off with water. Do this daily. source

Additional Tips

• Massage your knees and elbows with shea butter or cocoa butter every night before going to bed.
• Rub a thick potato slice over your knees and elbows for 5 minutes daily before taking a shower or bath.
• You can rub a small slice of ripe papaya onto the skin to enjoy soft and supple skin.
• Do not put pressure on your elbows and knees as it can make the skin dark as well as rough.
• Protect your knees and elbows from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays by wearing sunscreen throughout the year.
• Scrub your skin regularly with a scrubber or pumice stone.
• Avoid exfoliating your knees and elbows if you have an open wound as it may make it worse and increase the chances of infection.
• Apply moisturizer regulalrly on your skin to prevent dryness.
• Wear full-length and long-sleeved clothes when you are out and the temperature is high.
• Follow a healthy diet that includes vitamins and minerals for optimal skin nourishment.
• Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water everyday to enjoy soft and healthy skin.

Prayer for the new week

Everyone you meet shall favor you, cos this is your week of divine favor and visitation. The Lord shall revive you and everything about your life. Joy, peace and good health shall be yours and every member of your family in Jesus name. 

The Almighty God will intervene in that issue which requires urgent attention. Though it seems all hope is lost, but God will show up before the issue becomes embarrassing in Jesus name.

Happy new week from ASB'World.

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HE IS AT WORK IN YOU

For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

Living to please God is easy to talk about but very difficult to live out. None of us can live to please God by our own strength.

Jesus gave us the guide for how to live to please God. In the Sermon on the Mount, He told us to approach God with a hunger and thirst for righteousness. That is in reference to our passion for God.

To please God, we must intensely desire Him as the source of our sustenance and strength. Jesus also told us to mourn for our sins and turn away with vehemence from anything that offends God.

We cannot please God and still remain comfortable with sin in our lives. The person who loves God, must hate sin. It is important to remember that the one who gives us the desire to live to please God is the Lord Himself.

He is the one who gives us the hunger and thirst for righteousness. Because He is the one who gives us the desire, we must trust Him to give us the grace to live out the desire.

The paradox of our walk with God is this: God wants us to desire Him above all else yet we must also know that we cannot please Him by our own strength.

No matter how intensely we desire to please Him, we cannot do it by ourselves. Once we settle with this paradox, we place ourselves on the right path for a walk with God that is real and fulfilling.
The desire for God must be in our hearts but the power to live for God is from the Holy Spirit. We give Him our desires and He gives us the power to do the things that our hearts passionately longs for.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, give me the power to live to please God.

Scriptural Reading: Philippians 2:12-18

Popular Inspirational Speaker Nick Vujicic Welcome 2nd Baby Boy

The popular inspirational speaker Nick Vujicic thankful to God for wonderful gift of a baby boy God added to his family Dejan!.  Never lose hope hold on God, He can do the impossible.





Congrats  to Nick Vujicic and his wonderful family.
Photos by Nick Vujicic

GOD WILL TURN THINGS AROUND

I will open rivers in desolate heights, And fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water. Isaiah 41:18

To 'open' is to begin or initiate a process. God is able to initiate a new process of blessing in our lives even when our current situation looks dry and desolate.

He causes rivers to flow into our lives when we feel dry, alone and abandoned.

Rivers stand for:

• Life

• Refreshment

• Newness

The river in the desert is not the end product of what God wants to do but the beginning. God brings rivers into the desolate places as the first step in turning around the situation we are in.

When He initiates the process of blessing in our lives, He sustains it and completes it. The river of God in the wilderness will be sustained and will produce a pool in the wilderness.

Pools form in the wilderness after the dry ground has soaked up the initial water flow; the water continues to flow till the ground is so saturated with water, it creates a pool.

God will not start a process He cannot sustain; neither will He start a process and not end it. He also promises to release fountains in the valley.

Valleys represent those moments in our lives when we feel 'low' or 'down'. Valleys also represent seasons in our lives when we feel depressed and incapable of rising to do the things we want to do.

In such moments, we can trust the Lord to release fountains of life, newness and freshness into our hearts. Yes, even in the desert, God's love reaches out to us and renews us.

Prayer: Lord, let Your living waters flow into my heart to renew my strength.

Scriptural Reading: Isaiah 41:17-20

Health: 5 Natural Ways To Remove Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are visible streaks or lines on the skin caused by distension of the skin from obesity or during pregnancy. Stretch marks are usually evident around the abdomen, buttocks, thighs and shoulders sometimes stretching down the legs and arms.

While stretch marks may not really be classified as a skin disease, some are disgusting to even look at. When the body expands or shrinks in size quickly, fine lines may appear on the body and these lines are what we refer to as “Stretch Marks” throughout this article.

While this article may not concentrate much on the causes, sign and symptoms, and prevention of stretch marks, we will be discussing the natural ways to treat or remove stretch marks from the body.

There are few amazing ways that have worked for several years, which you can use to remove stretch marks from your skin. I hope you find these methods useful in removing or reducing the stretch marks on your skin.

1. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is quite an important and effective method of removing stretch marks from the skin. There are several important nutrients and active compounds in Aloe Vera that can be quite useful in removing stretch marks.

The method simply involves rubbing Aloe Vera on the affected parts of your skin for few minutes, and then rinse it off with warm water.

You can as well mix ¼ cup of Aloe Vera gel with oil from 10 Vitamin E capsules and oil from 5 Vitamin A capsules. Apply this mixture on the affected part of your skin until it is fully absorbed. Repeat this process every day and after some time you will notice that the stretch marks on your skin has started to disappear. Keep apply this method till you get a satisfying result.

2. Water
You will be marveled at the healing powers of water. Keeping your body well hydrated can help keep if off from skin problems. When your skin is well hydrated, this results in regular detoxification of your skin pores which restores elasticity of your skin and help you get rid of stretch marks.

Practice drinking 10 glasses of water daily to keep your skin well hydrated. This will help soften your skin and help maintain its elasticity. Avoid coffee, tea or soda as these things can cause dehydration of the skin which in turn can cause stretch marks to appear on your skin.3. Sugar
Are you surprised to see sugar on the list of methods to remove stretch marks from your skin? Natural white sugar is one of the best methods to remove stretch marks from the skin. Sugar exfoliates the skin.

Sugar can be used to remove stretch marks from the skin and the method is an easy one. Simply mix a teaspoon of raw sugar with some almond oil and a few drops of lemon juice. Mix it well and apply it on the areas of your body with stretch marks, rub it gently for at least 10 minutes every day before taking a bath.

You will be amazed at the results you will get within a month. Keep practicing this until you obtain a satisfying result.

4. Olive Oil
There are important nutrients and antioxidants that can help improve various skin problems such as stretch marks in Olive Oil.

Massage the affected part of your skin with warm Olive oil to improve the blood circulation and reduce the stretch marks on this part of your skin. Leave it for an hour, so the Vitamin A, D and E present in it can be absorbed by the skin.

Keep your skin moisturized especially at nights with a mixture of Olive oil with vinegar and water. Apply is to your skin before going to bed at night. This will help keep your skin moisturized and also exfoliate your skin.

5. Potato Juice
There are vitamins and minerals present in Potato juice that can foster growth and restoration of the skin cells. Slice a medium-sized potato into thick slices and use the slices to rub on the stretch marks on your skin gently for few minutes.  Ensure the liquid from the potato covers the affected areas of your skin, leave it to dry off for some time before washing it off with warm water.

You can practice any combination of these methods to get that stretch marks off your skin in no time. Remember that gaining and losing of weight over a short period of time is what causes these marks at first, so try and maintain a good body size to prevent the marks reappearing afterwards.witnessing relatively quick results. source tipsdrop.com